📘 Discover the South Africa Yearbook 2024/25
The South Africa Yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s history, government, economy, people, development and progress across key sectors.
🔗 Full publication: Read the South Africa Yearbook 2024/25
📂 Separate chapters: Download chapters on the GCIS website
DID YOU KNOW? | South African Word of the Year shortlist has been announced
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), in association with media research company, Focal Points, hereby announces the following shortlisted words as candidates for 2026 SA Word of the Year:
| SA Word of the Year | Social Media Word of the Year | SASL Sign of the Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Madlanga Commission | 1. Clock it | 
Oh, i see! Obligation
Suspect (verb) |
| 2. Illegal Immigration | 2. Nikhona? | |
| 3. Gender-based violence | 3. Gone Kanje | |
| 4. March and March | 4. Diabolical | |
| 5. Xenophobia | 5. Abahambe | |
| 6. Femicide | 6. Aura farming | |
| 7. Ashwagandha |
The South African Word of the Year is a word, term, expression or sign that best reflects the current year linguistically. To qualify for consideration, the word(s) must capture the ethos, mood or pre-occupations of 2026. There must be evidence that usage of the word or expression has significantly increased across a broad range of platforms during the past 12 months.
Words/terms that were submitted and considered include: Bafazi, Ayikho intwenje, Mî du re, Yiyo, FifaWorldCup2026, Matsebetsebe, Nqothovu, Sdwadlo, Uzenenye, among others. The South African Sign Language (SASL) signs that were considered include ‘Easy’, ‘Unique and different’ and the term ‘Not yet’.
|
Easy
Unique and different
Not yet |
#GovZAUpdates
